The range of natural distribution is from near Batemans Bay (35° S) in southern New South Wales to Cape Tribulation (16° S) in tropical Queensland.

[citation needed] Sloanea australis has bright pink new leaves which make identification easy.

A medium to large tree, up to 30 metres (98 ft) tall with a stem diameter of 60 cm (24 in) with grey-brown bark.

Alexander Floyd mentions a 55-metre (180 ft) tall individual at Border Ranges National Park.

[1] Leaves alternate with wavy margins, toothed and obovate, 7 to 30 cm (2.8 to 11.8 in) long, some with a shortly blunted tip.